THE agriculture sector of Negros Occidental incurred total damage and production losses worth P11.4 million caused by the recent floodings, final reports of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) showed.
Of the amount, accounted for the period September 22 to 30, the rice sector incurred the highest damage amounting to P11 million.
The figure covers 727 farmers in 47 barangays of six local government units (LGUs), with a total area of 5.80 hectares.
The OPA reported yesterday that San Enrique town incurred the highest production losses, at almost P5.1 million. Affected were 278 farmers with 369.19 hectares.
A total of 153 farmers in 254.85 hectares in Valladolid incurred almost P1.6 million in damage. It is followed by Sipalay City with almost P1.4 million covering 78 affected-farmers in 69-hectare rice farms.
The three other localities include Murcia with P1.3 million damage; Bago City, almost P1.1 million; and Ilog, P648,000.
The province’s vegetable sector also incurred losses worth P373,650. Affected were 36 farmers in 5.8-hectare plantation in Valladolid town, reports further showed.
Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino earlier said the OPA is validating if affected farmers are covered by the province’s Negros First Universal Crop Insurance Program (NFUCIP).
Under the program, enrolled farmers can avail P17,000 in claims per hectare of farms damaged and affected by calamity.
The Provincial Government is also providing seeds to affected farmers, he added.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) earlier reported damage to livestock and poultry sector worth P196,403 due to heavy rains.
The reported damage were accounted for chicken, goat, gamefowl, ducks and cattle in Salvador Benedicto, San Enrique, Binalbagan, and Hinoba-an towns.